Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Received a few calls updating me on the great time everyone had on the boot camp; it was an overwhelming success!! For those that went down as a kick off to the 2014 paddling season in the Midwest, you made a good call as the ice and snow and sleet and rain and more of the same continue; we live in a time where polar vortex is common place; on a the positive side the rivers lake and streams we love will have plenty of water this season.

So as some head back, others stay in preparation for the Everglades Challenge; interesting thing about the challenge is you never know what is going to happen in regards to weather (wind, rain, heat and cold) it is a mystery that has to be experienced.

The Kruger Players for the upcoming EC:

MicroTom (aka Tom Dyll) and WaterLily (aka Erika Dyll) - father daughter team; close to my heart as I did the EC with Boo my daughter in 2008

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Well I thought I'd seen it all with 55 trips around the sun; but the hardcore Bober's Bootcamp went soft on me; picnic tables, sweet blue eyed parrots, what next!! - Powerboats and coolers? :-)

Sources close to the action report plenty of adventure in this trip along with a little excitement in the OC6 and a close call with a day marker piling; my sources tell me it took all they got to thread the needle and keep from tearing up the boat; the way I hear it the piling gave as much as it got but lost out in the end; OC6 1 vs. Piling 0.

Reports of everyone having a good time switching it up from OC6 to Sea Wind; off the water on Saturday with the eye on the ball readying for the Everglades Challenge.

O.K. I must confess I received a phone call from Toby Nipper (whitecaps) yesterday, surely to update me on their escapades in the Everglades during the boot camp; but suffering from PTSD ( P. addled T.oby S.cared D.eath) I panicked and did not take the call.

So this is what I know - Toby has cell service which means he is on the grid and global (please set your tazers to stun); the weather must be warm as I then received a 3 letter text which said "hot" - or they are shooting the sports illustrated calendar out on Pavilion Key - it's a mystery.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Well a storm has blown through the south and landed right in Stan's front yard; no I am not talking about the winter storm that crippled Atlanta (note: Michigan travelers it was damp pavement) I digress - it was those hard hitting Krugerheads gearing up for Bob Bradford's Paddling Boot Camp.

Presently they are headed down to Everglades City; here are the players thus far:

I believe there are two others participating, but I do not have their names; getting information from this crew is pain-staking; all they want to do is paddle and leave us "the weary" to wonder.

Remember when Bob says 0800, he really means 0745. :-) also we have SPOT links to the right; still trying to work out the bugs in the system but should be working shortly - Sandy's is on now and current.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Dear Krugerhreads, I kinda want an all in one place for those that are doing it and those that are starting. So please add or correct me. And someone smarter than me save it somehow or tell me how to!

All stainless steel fittings including machine screws & nylock nuts should be 316. The 316 is the alloy rating and this is the most rust resistant. A good way to cherry pick SS is to use a magnet. If it sticks it will rust.

I use 8-32 for the diameter and thread pitch, ranging in length from 1 1/4 down to 1/2 in. for length. I use pan head and flat head. Also flat washers. Love Toby

http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel-cable/=qcn618 this mcmaster carr. For rudder cables you want 1/16 7x7 strand. Don’t forget the end stops. I also buy my machine screws, skirt snaps, and snap tool, drill bits, milling bits, and a lot of other stuff from here. They have it all.

http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/tundratarp.htm I use a 10X10. I have both the 1.1 and the 1.9 weight. The 1.1 packs smaller and is lighter but cost more. 1.1 is not really worth it for fun trips.I use his line for my tie outs, and my mentor gave me some of Dans 12 in Easton stakes that I rely on for the beach sand.

http://www.bugshirt.com/products/elite/ I use the microfibre one,. Never searched or wanted to try anything else, I be done with my bug shirt search. Hot in the summer so maybe someone could try the cotton one. Not me as I do this a lot and do not take care of my stuff so it would rot for me.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/ust-20-310-net003.html When you just need a little no see um protection. Strangest place I ever found a head net. This one works and can be stuck in your pocket. (order at least ten and give them away, or sell them for $100.00 apiece at the right time.)

http://sawyer.com/technology/permethrin/ My tents have a more or less 1 foot square area at the roof that is not screen. I spray this on the inside and the bottom inside corners. Works awesome. I have watched them fall dead to floor many a night. No more little blood filled fat bodies walking around in the morning after a midnight pee. Also good on the vents on my Sunday Afternoon hat that I wear all the time for no see ums. There are recipes for make your own on various forums but to much work and maybe unsafe for me.

This one was a gift, and has really impressed me. For what I do in races and fun trips it always goes. I even have a spare now.

http://www.zebralight.com/Headlamp_c_7.html I do not like to recommend these as they have some growing pains. I own over ten of them, so I have faith. My favorite are a 502D for camp use, AA batteries. No reflector so all flood with a tint that shows all colors with no glare. (plus face glows in the dark to find stuff and comes on in low mode) The 600 series are my head lamps. 18650 batteries. I have a neutral for rivers and back country, and a cool white one for off shore. All my lights are on rechargeable batteries as I could not afford to run them on primary batts. with my trips. All my hand held lights are custom done with a lot of tweaks.. I will run Zebra head lights with one custom handheld in this years EC.

http://wiggys.com/about.cfm I have the ftrss system from him that goes colder than I plan on ever going. I have used part of this. I did his 20 degree bag down to 17 verified and slept without being cold, with some extra clothes. I have a set of light waterproof leggings, and a pad. (I never yet used the pad.) I just ordered his poncho liner. Bill Fite gave me a military issue one that I like. This one will let me compare them. Those that have not used a liner, you are missing out on a nice trip option for being warm. In Florida I just bring this on some trips. I also carry one of his pillows with my Exped inflatable to muffle my whimpering at night as it is a requirement on some of our trips.

http://www.krugercanoes.blogspot.com/ The two boats at the top are mine on the left and Marks on the right. both on this cart. We pulled them to Fargo, 40 miles. This was Marks third trip here with the same cart just different wheels. We used mine and Bobs to portage the 39 ft. OC6 at Flamingo.

These are my Glades Girls. These two are tough. Been there done that and know their way around, and go in comfort. You want to see team work camp here.

http://constancemierphotography.com/ Let it cycle and watch the slide show. Gotta love Connie. World class picture stuff for sure. This is a huntress that stalks and collects her prey. I have watched her work, pretty awesome!